Needing some infield insurance while Ian Desmond returns from an oblique tear and Mark DeRosa battles an abdominal strain, the Nationals have acquired veteran Cesar Izturis from the Brewers in a waiver claim.

Izturis, 32, has played 12 big-league seasons with the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Orioles and Brewers. He was hitting .235 with two homers and 11 RBI in 57 games with Milwaukee this season.

Itzuris' acquisition was a straight waiver claim, not a trade, so the Nationals aren't giving up any players for him. They'll only be responsible for the remainder of his $850,000 salary this season.

General manager Mike Rizzo had hoped to get through Desmond's stint on the disabled list with Danny Espinosa and Steve Lombardozzi starting at shortstop and second base, respectively, and DeRosaRead more »

As Paul mentioned above, I believe this means a 40-man and 25-man move for the Nats. I'd say 25-man is either Moore to Syracuse to play everyday until Sept 1 or DeRosa to the DL. No clue about the 40-man. I'm a little happy to see this claim. Never heard what happened to Espinosa in his slide into 2nd yesterday but it scared me that he might need to leave the game. Re: DeRosa. I remember someone saying about him when he was with the Giants that he is a good player when he's not hurt. However, he is hurt a lot.

As Paul mentioned above, I believe this means a 40-man and 25-man move for the Nats. Uhhhmmm no, I think the 25-man move was made when Mark DeRosa was placed on the 15-day DL. Could end up on the 60-day at some point at age 37 and three injury filled years. Instead, they decided to DFA Atahualpo "Attie" Severino a left-handed power reliever they've had on the 40-man since Bowden was GM. Seems like they may have finally given up on him.

The move associated with Severino may have been done to open the next slot for Christian Garcia. I suspect that will happen when Chien-Ming Wang is DFA'ed or released. Clearly, Zach Walter's wasn't considered ready yet.

So on twitter it says DeRosa with a groin strain. Is this another one of those moves where the guy thinks me might be dfa'd and so something starts to hurt really bad? Seems like the young guys love him in the dugout, so this way he can mentor without actually having to do anything on the field. Win-Win.

Izturis is good only as emergency medical insurance. You wouldn't ever double-switch with him because there are other players much less defensively-skilled who would be taken out and, in any event, what is gained by putting him the pitcher's slot in the batting order? You would want to pinch hit for him anyway — and you couldn't because there's only Tracy behind him in the infield. And heaven knows you wouldn't start him unless Espinosa (and, necessarily, Lombardozzi) played 22 innings the day before.If Desmond comes back end of August, Izturis gets released, and maybe even after rosters expand in September.

If Desmond comes back end of August, Izturis gets released, and maybe even after rosters expand in September.And ends up being a "place or slot holder" as Severino basically has been doing all of this time for someone they want to see in the majors when the rosters expand.

Seems like the young guys love him in the dugout, so this way he can mentor without actually having to do anything on the field. Normally the players on the DL don't travel with the team. It'd be interesting to see if they make an exception as they seem to have with Desmond. As far as mentoring they've got Werth back. He provides that as well.

peric said… What are you talking about?Its called dry humor laced with irony. Ever heard of it? Sheesh.If something that's supposed to be humor requires an explanation, it ain't funny. If a "sheesh" is involved in the explanation, doubly so.

baseballswami said… Anyone know why Severino got DFA's ? His era looks good, under three. I mean, he's not even close to CMW or HRod territory.Someone had to go. And it appears that a player can't be DFA while they're still on the DL (although when their rehab stint is done they surely can, as X. Nady can attest). Wang and Henry are still on the DL.

livernonions said… Unless you're going to let Strasburg pitch through the playoffs, you don't make a move like this.These two thoughts are connected only in the sense that Pluto is considered part of New Jersey.

BTW, great move by Rizzo. I'm sure his heart skipped a few beats while Espi was laying prone at second base following that slide. Izzy is great insurance; hope we don't need him much, but that's what insurance is for. Nice move, Mike.

Severino is a reliever … ERA isn't necessarily what you look at. He has basically been in AAA since Bowden was GM. Clearly, there's something not right. He's been passed by a bunch of relievers since then. Heck they even picked up MacDougal again to provide depth. Uhmmm could be this:Overall, there’s no doubt as to why Severino walked a ton of guys in Triple-A–he throws a ton of pitches outside the strike zone. Only 34.9% of his pitches were in the zone, one of the lowest rates in baseball, as he’s constantly throwing the fastball too high and the slider too far outside.Sound familiar?One recent take on Severino

I think this is his sixth year in the system, so they've really given him enough time to make a mark, and if you have Burnett, Gorzelanny, and Gonzalez, he's kind of a luxury on the 40 man roster. I bet a team will claim him though, even with his control issues, since he throws hard.Izturis is a pretty good defensive fit and didn't cost them a player or a much cash. Easy decision.

I would hope that he was not listening to us, but rather figured it out all by himself. I also imagine that there are reasons that transactions have played out on his timeline rather than on ours. There's a reason that he has the GM job and we don't. :-)NatsLady said… So, Rizzo was listening when we said he needed a catcher and infield backup? Or do you think he figured that out by himself? August 06, 2012 3:20 PM

It was funny–and I didn't even need the sheesh! Many (outside) say that if the Nats don't pitch Stras for 220 innings they are not playing to win. So, if Rizzo's not playing to win, why bother making trades/waiver pickups and letting go of prospects like the Emperor and Freitas?

So, Rizzo was listening when we said he needed a catcher and infield backup? Or do you think he figured that out by himself?Way ahead … but he didn't want to get just anyone for the catching slot. I thought he might go out and try to get another prospect. Instead he was pickier in that he chose someone with whom Davey was very familiar. Probably took a bit longer given what a tough customer Beane is.As for backup shortstop with Desmond on the mend plus Espinosa? No need for a more permanent solution. I bet that near miss at second with Danny caused him to pull the trigger.

Izturis is an important part of team Z.I hope they have enough of that letter in stock wherever they put the name and number on the uniforms. I suppose they could turn an N on its side, but that would be tacky. Natinals-level tacky.

Hi Mike and Davey! Thanks for taking all of the roster recommendations from us ;-)After watching Espi go down briefly yesterday, this is a good insurance policy. I was saying alot of Hail Mary's watching him laying on 2B.

I seem to remember Severino coming up to the big leagues twice for short stints and not getting into any games. Talk about a downer for the guy. Then he was September callup last year and did ok, but not great. He just wasn't going to make it here, maybe he can make it elsewhere.

Well, seeing as I've never noticed "livernonions" before , I assume it was one of the clown poster's aliases. Regardless, if it was meant to be a joke I can only say that the poster better keep his day job because I've heard better dry humor and irony in a MASN message that has been approved by one, or the other, presidential candidates. As to the original post regarding the signing of Izturis, all I can say is I don't think any of us were very comfortable with Mark De Rosa basically being our only backup middle infielder. What a good day for him in that he went from the Brewers to the first place Nationals. Welcome, Cesar.

What a good day for him in that he went from the Brewers to the first place Nationals.Wasn't too long ago that someone played a practical joke on a player by telling him he'd be traded to the Nats. Anyone remember the details? And Jerry Hairston and Nyjer Morgan were pumped because they went from the Nats to the Brewers. How times have changed.

For anyone worried about the Nats lack of July 31 trade activity, Rizzo plugged 2 gaping holes and gave up cash and Freitas and nobody else.A+ Mr. Rizzo. Love the DL and DFA moves. DeRosa was the top bench off-season move that I applauded and he did less than Nady on the field who at least hit a game winning HR early in the season.DeRosa can be credited with good mentoring with Bernadina so he did help where he could.

I'm in a much better mood now. It was a gaping hole at backup shortstop. What if Espi was injured in that spike to hand play yesterday? Nats had no real organizational depth at shortstop. Probably Ryan Zimmerman and Chad Tracy to 3rd.

More activity after July 31st than before. That's how they roll. Welcome to DC , guys. Seems like the fans were underwhelmed with watching the Phils play earlier in the week and were out in force this weekend for the dh, picnic,bobblehead, etc. So loud. I love how the crowd sings along with Morse' music, Werth's new one is awesome — I Love Rock and Roll, and I have always loved Drew's Bad Company. It's fun when their walk up music isn't just something they happen to like, but something that gets the crowd going and singing along. Yesterday morning at church out here in the suburbs everyone was talking Nats and wearing their gear. The Pastor is from Boston, job before here was in Philly. He takes it well. The curly W's are truly everywhere now.

Probably Ryan Zimmerman and Chad Tracy to 3rd.Rendon is now with Potomac and looks to play Tuesday in Myrtle Beach I think? If he looks good wouldn't you assume they call him up after the minor league contests are over?

Really nice pick up. Nat's Jack is right terrific club house guy. I know he really had great range when he played for the O's a few years back. And yes Rizzo knew long before anyone on this board that he might have a problem if Desi got injured, that is before Desi went on the DL. If Mark mentions it then he has most likely heard something from a scout or a colleague or he knows baseball. If people didn't always try and tell Mark about were he might be wrong about something he might tell us more.

Interesting thought, though — what would they have done mid-game if Danny had to come out? Morse used to play short! He was actually kidding around playing there last week during warmups. Don't laugh. It could happen.This is probably better. I still wonder how hurt DeRosa is. He played this weekend. Maybe a little sore, but maybe just stashed.

Don't laugh. It could happen.I could just see Davey laughing about having a lumbering 6'6 guy playing shortstop again. I could see Morse at second base … maybe third but not short at this point. His arm hasn't come all the way back yet from the back injury he suffered earlier.

Rendon will have to spend time in Fall Instructs, especially if they want to send him to Arizona. He needs to play, not sit on a bench.Seems like they are prepping him to play in the Arizona Fall league. Once he is completely fit it shouldn't be much of a challenge for him.

When is Ian planning to come back?Ian is probably thinking next week at the latest. The doctor's seem to want him to hold off until after the 1st of September.If he starts doing things he shouldn't and re-injures it … They don't want to rush it and risk losing him for the run to October.

None were listed in this year’s Baseball America’s Top 20 international prospects rankings. Prospects must be 16 years old to sign with a team.Here's the reason there is and was chattering about it Natslady. Do you sign Aroldis Chapman or Yunesky Maya? Right now the only possible Marquis player the Nats have developed and who has made his way up the Nats system is Eury Perez. Plus there are the catchers Solano and Leon. After that?

Zection 3, My Zofa said… Best comment I've seen so far on Brewers blogs:"As long they weren't allowed to give back Cutter Dykstra then it's a good deal!" August 06, 2012 4:17 PM ______________________________Zofa, I love it. The "Z" of riZZo is sweeping natZtown

Swami, I also love when the walk-up music involves the crowd. I had a new-to-live-basebvall-games friend with me in the park yesterday, and he was struck by the sing-alongs and sing-on-cue walk ups. Seeing it through his eyes, it sorta says, "We've been paying attention to these guys for a while. C'mon on in and join us." One of the powers of this great site was that it made us all smarter about the team, making us feel like "insiders," which just makes us more attached. Crowd participation walk up music does the same thing, in a different way. I also love the way Jayson really looks at the crowd now, since the end of last season when he could finally "get it" that people LIKED him on the team, and weren't cheering AGAINST him. In other news, the Braves have about the easiest end of a season of any team playing. How did that happen?

JaneB, was watching a recording of one of the weekend games. The crowd was really into it and cheering, and Jayson was looking around the park the taking it all in. I thought of what he told our guys after he'd joined the team. He talked about how Mets fans would take over in Philly, and how hometown crowds grew with the Phillies' winning record (you know, back in the day when they *were* winning – oh, no, I didn't! – but I digress). He went on to say that when DC started winning, it would be like that here. I thought maybe he was thinking of that when he looked up at the crowds this weekend.